The Petitioning Process: How It Works
Basically, Jesus said it all: When you pray, if you have
anything against anyone, FORGIVE them, and then
MAINTAIN FAITH that God is granting your requests
(Mark 12:24-25 and elsewhere).
anything against anyone, FORGIVE them, and then
MAINTAIN FAITH that God is granting your requests
(Mark 12:24-25 and elsewhere).
The Catch:
The Simple
Formula:
Formula:
The problem is that both these spiritual tasks,
forgiveness and faith, are quite difficult to accomplish
and sustain. Forgiveness is frequently achieved only by
working very hard to let go of our resentful or vindictive
feelings and then humbly entreating God to replace them
with good will. Likewise, faith is often attained and
sustained only by working very hard to keep ourselves in
a faithful mood, as well as by asking God to help.
forgiveness and faith, are quite difficult to accomplish
and sustain. Forgiveness is frequently achieved only by
working very hard to let go of our resentful or vindictive
feelings and then humbly entreating God to replace them
with good will. Likewise, faith is often attained and
sustained only by working very hard to keep ourselves in
a faithful mood, as well as by asking God to help.
The Solution
(and the Purpose of Life):
(and the Purpose of Life):
These difficult tasks are made easier if we bear in mind
this truth: The purpose of this life is to spur us to
remake ourselves in God's image; the individual
circumstances of our lives are tailor-made to coax us
toward such transformation. This means that if we ask
God to change a particular circumstance, we can
greatly increase the chances that he'll grant our request
by undertaking the corresponding bit of
self-improvement. What might he have been trying to
teach us by allowing that circumstance in the first
place? If we can identify the lesson and start trying to
learn it, we clear God to change the circumstance.
We still have to maintain our faith, but that's much
easier to do when we know we're doing what God
wants. As for forgiveness, that itself is often one of the
main transformations that is attached to his granting of
our petitions.
this truth: The purpose of this life is to spur us to
remake ourselves in God's image; the individual
circumstances of our lives are tailor-made to coax us
toward such transformation. This means that if we ask
God to change a particular circumstance, we can
greatly increase the chances that he'll grant our request
by undertaking the corresponding bit of
self-improvement. What might he have been trying to
teach us by allowing that circumstance in the first
place? If we can identify the lesson and start trying to
learn it, we clear God to change the circumstance.
We still have to maintain our faith, but that's much
easier to do when we know we're doing what God
wants. As for forgiveness, that itself is often one of the
main transformations that is attached to his granting of
our petitions.
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Overview
Petitioning God: How to Get Your Prayers Answered